ladyislingering
retired
At the tail end of disco's popularity there was at least one candle burning to keep it in the charts for just a while longer - and it was held by four glamorous pop superstars from Sweden. These four individuals consisted of:
Collectively, they were known throughout the world as ABBA. And if you weren't aware before, they were (and continue to be) an absolute sensation. When it came time to record their sixth album, they had already taken the world by storm - their singles and previous albums had hit no. 1 in several different countries, and they were not about to be forgotten.
"Voulez Vous" was backed by a menagerie of studio musicians to develop its enormous sound. By the time this review concludes I hope to appeal to the tastes of even those who disregard disco music. Here's a breakdown of a 70s pop staple, which was written entirely by Benny and Björn.
Note: This is a review of the tracks from the original LP. The album has seen many re-issues with bonus tracks that I may or may not post later on in the thread. For now, this is the album, as-is.
"As Good as New" opens with a bit of a funky string-section, leading into a heavy bass and a skanky guitar. Its sound flourishes with synthesizers galore, without losing the sick bassline already established, but definitely takes a backseat to Agnetha's vocals.Take a listen to this brilliantly soupy love song.
Agnetha's voice is stunning. One thing in particular to note with many songs on this album is that every member of the group is singing at some point.
The album leads into its title track rather early in the game. Not coincidentally, the single was a smash. It was the only track of ABBA's to ever have been released as a dance remix on the side (otherwise known as a 12" promo). With guitars, synthesizers, and a heavy bassline, "Voulez-Vous" is sure to encourage a good handclap throughout its chorus. There's even a saxophone.
One of the less disco-y tracks on the album is called "I Have a Dream". It's a track for the virtuous restless hearts in all of us. Though very soft in nature (some may call it "cheesy" perhaps) it's almost sure to be a tireless brainworm even for the strongest. It appears to open with a distorted sitar-esque instrument. Frida is on lead vocals. If anything, it's actually a very impressive display of vocal magnitude of the entire group.
One of my favourite tracks on the album follows this ABBA ballad: "Angeleyes". Both Frida and Agnetha are on vocals.
One of the problems with the song's release as a single is that it had to compete with a completely unrelated song of the same title: Roxy Music's "Angel Eyes". Be advised that both songs are of an entirely different nature. (Though, personally, I love them both.)
"Angeleyes" is an extremely upbeat track (which is very common for ABBA) with a cautionary tale in the lyrics about a woman whose ex is no good - and she wants to warn his new girl not to gaze too far into his hypnotic stare, lest she get trapped. It's not an extremely bass-heavy track; I'd personally call it "disco-lite". However, with all the instruments in there, you can barely tell there's a piano in there somewhere.
The conclusion to side A of the album, "The King Has Lost His Crown" is where it starts to sound like your old cassette collection. You know what I mean. It's another "disco-lite" type of track, with lots of inoffensive synthesizer effects as it opens. However, it's very bass-heavy as it leads in. Frida's voice is very tender, drawing into a powerful chorus. It's very much a filler track on the album, but worth a listen.
Side B of "Voulez Vous" will follow shortly.
Agnetha Fältskog
Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad
Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad
Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Collectively, they were known throughout the world as ABBA. And if you weren't aware before, they were (and continue to be) an absolute sensation. When it came time to record their sixth album, they had already taken the world by storm - their singles and previous albums had hit no. 1 in several different countries, and they were not about to be forgotten.
"Voulez Vous" was backed by a menagerie of studio musicians to develop its enormous sound. By the time this review concludes I hope to appeal to the tastes of even those who disregard disco music. Here's a breakdown of a 70s pop staple, which was written entirely by Benny and Björn.
Note: This is a review of the tracks from the original LP. The album has seen many re-issues with bonus tracks that I may or may not post later on in the thread. For now, this is the album, as-is.
ABBA - "Voulez Vous" (1979)
"As Good as New" opens with a bit of a funky string-section, leading into a heavy bass and a skanky guitar. Its sound flourishes with synthesizers galore, without losing the sick bassline already established, but definitely takes a backseat to Agnetha's vocals.Take a listen to this brilliantly soupy love song.
Agnetha's voice is stunning. One thing in particular to note with many songs on this album is that every member of the group is singing at some point.
The album leads into its title track rather early in the game. Not coincidentally, the single was a smash. It was the only track of ABBA's to ever have been released as a dance remix on the side (otherwise known as a 12" promo). With guitars, synthesizers, and a heavy bassline, "Voulez-Vous" is sure to encourage a good handclap throughout its chorus. There's even a saxophone.
One of the less disco-y tracks on the album is called "I Have a Dream". It's a track for the virtuous restless hearts in all of us. Though very soft in nature (some may call it "cheesy" perhaps) it's almost sure to be a tireless brainworm even for the strongest. It appears to open with a distorted sitar-esque instrument. Frida is on lead vocals. If anything, it's actually a very impressive display of vocal magnitude of the entire group.
One of my favourite tracks on the album follows this ABBA ballad: "Angeleyes". Both Frida and Agnetha are on vocals.
One of the problems with the song's release as a single is that it had to compete with a completely unrelated song of the same title: Roxy Music's "Angel Eyes". Be advised that both songs are of an entirely different nature. (Though, personally, I love them both.)
"Angeleyes" is an extremely upbeat track (which is very common for ABBA) with a cautionary tale in the lyrics about a woman whose ex is no good - and she wants to warn his new girl not to gaze too far into his hypnotic stare, lest she get trapped. It's not an extremely bass-heavy track; I'd personally call it "disco-lite". However, with all the instruments in there, you can barely tell there's a piano in there somewhere.
The conclusion to side A of the album, "The King Has Lost His Crown" is where it starts to sound like your old cassette collection. You know what I mean. It's another "disco-lite" type of track, with lots of inoffensive synthesizer effects as it opens. However, it's very bass-heavy as it leads in. Frida's voice is very tender, drawing into a powerful chorus. It's very much a filler track on the album, but worth a listen.
Side B of "Voulez Vous" will follow shortly.
